Exactly. Those “orthodox” universities only care about viewpoints counter to Catholicism inasmuch as it illustrates that the Catholic church is actually correct.
Yes, we want our Catholic universities to be places of excellent scholarship. But, if it’s a Catholic school, then we don’t approach Catholic teaching from a standpoint of skepticism, as though we can start from scratch with every issue. If I attend a Moral theology class at a Catholic university, I would expect them to clearly lay out the Catholic Church’s moral teaching as well as explaining the reasons for that teaching and answering any of the students’ questions. Certainly there are gray areas in morality and theology where Catholics can disagree, but there are many areas that are
not gray. It’s not as though we approach a topic such as homosexual activity from the vantage point of “The Church could be right or it could be wrong. Let’s discuss it and find out
together.”
I think I understand a bit of your concern. We do need to think through things. By way of analogy, when we’re learning math, we often will first look at going about things the long way before we learn the shortcuts so that we can have a better understanding of how things work. We do the same with theology when we look at the roots of the basic principles before we build upon them. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Considered equal? I didn’t say that. I said take ideas and think critically about them. Even the ones the “infallible” Church says are absolutely true. Even the concept of an infallible church itself. I question the compatibility of the notion of infallibility in a University setting.
I never said that you did say that (notice, I intentionally used the words “if
one wants” and not “if
you want”). I think this is where we fail to see eye-to-eye, and we probably will just have to agree to disagree on this point: I do not believe the infallibility of the Church is at all incompatible with a University setting. Unless, of course, we raise the University to a higher level than the Church (which, of course, many people do).
I think there is an important difference between thinking
critically and thinking
skeptically. It’s a mistake to believe that, in order to think critically, we must question everything (at least in the way that most people today use the word “question” as synonomous with “doubt”). My main problem with this line of thinking is that, when many people say that it is the job of Catholic universities to teach students to question everything (even Church teaching), they do
not mean simply seeking to understand what we as Catholics believe and profess to be true. They mean, “Question everything, and if your questioning leads you to disagree with infallible Church teaching, that’s okay.” That’s not okay.
I think this error stems from the fact that most people today believe faith is incompatible with reason. Thus, they assume that anything accepted by faith is somehow blind and uncritical. As though we just turn off our brains and mindlessly follow. That is a
severe misunderstanding of both faith
and reason.
Addressing your other points: No, I don’t go to FUS - but I applied there (when I was my naive self who didn’t know any better). I know a number of graduates, as well as a couple of current students. I have talked with a number of religious studies professors about their opinions of FUS. My picture is accurate of their theology program - they consider views that don’t agree with the Catholic church only inasmuch as they can refute them. As you said, they have to see the “error” just so they can refute it. Apologetics, though, make for poor scholarship.
So, in other words, your information is all second-hand. Mine is not, and your picture of their theology program is
not accurate. Their theology program is
not a glorified apologetics seminar. I have attended both a prestigious state school and FUS and I can tell you that I learned far more about critical thinking at FUS than I ever did at the state school.
I would like to hear your answer to the question as to what the difference
should be between a Catholic college and a secular one. Why waste your money going to an expensive Catholic school if you can get the same thing at a state school? Why should the Church even bother
having Catholic colleges and universities if not to create a thoroughly Catholic environment where learning and formation of Catholic identity can take place? Even from a practical view point, wouldn’t the Church just be shooting Herself in the foot by “educating” the Church members to question even the most infallible teachings (as though it’s just fine to disagree and then work
against the Church in certain areas)?
